Everybody wants to be a millionaire. And now everybody wants the actress Freida Pinto also.
The 25-year-old is a former model from Mumbai who is the new “it” girl in Hollywood starring in the critically-acclaimed movie Slumdog Millionaire. The Danny Boyle-directed movie follows three kids growing up in India’s underbelly who travel down parallel yet distinctly different paths. The through line of the film is one of the character’s appearance on the game show “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” and his love for Pinto’s character. Slumdog is nominated for 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Directing for Boyle, Soundtrack (including the songs “Paper Planes” and “Oh Saya” performed by M.I.A.) and Writing (Adapted Screen Play) it was based on a novel “Q&A: Slumdog Millionaire” by Vikas Swarup. (Pinto did not get nominated.) Like Boyle’s other films Trainspotting, A Life Less Ordinary and Millions, Slumdog mixes human condition, subculture and music. Aside from Slumdog’s beautiful cinematography and scenery, gritty and violent action and surreal modern Bollywood story telling, Pinto’s is absolutely radiant. Her acting is stunning, captivating and memorable. She did commercials, some Indian TV and traveling shows, but this is Pinto’s debut film. Her performance is challenging and captivating, and she is a natural. A glamorous star of India is born.
